Chilling turn to missing Damascus woman's story

EARLY CO., GA (WALB) -

A case that has puzzled the community of Damascus. The constant search for Ms. Doris Tot Shorter has gathered many across the area in the hunt

Canine Units, Helicopters, and four wheelers have trekked across early country trying to find the woman suffering from Alzheimer that was believed to wander out of her home one Friday night. But one gruesome turn to this case could have many confused.

After weeks and weeks of searching the family smelled a strange scent from underneath the house.

GBI Investigator Kim Baker says "This morning the home owner contacted the early county sheriffs department about a storage odor coming form the house early county deputies responded and found what they believe to be human remains".

Ms. Shorter's granddaughter Cynthia smelled the scent first in her bedroom and were a little rattled about the discovery of the body.

Neighbor Joycelyn Perkins says,' "Right now they are a little unsettled because its a mystery to how this event came about".

And the family has many questions as well.

"I spoke to the the husband the daughter and the granddaughter and grandchildren today and they have some unanswered questions in their mind.

And the GBI is on the case to give the family the information they seek as well as closure

Agent Baker says "We are all out here conducting and investigating the remains found underneath the home interviewing people that live inside the home trying to get specific information and pretty much the final result of the remains we find".

And after all of the hard work and support from neighbors and friends the family sends deep appreciation.

"On behalf of the shorter and ricks family anyone that was involved in the search the first day we had over 200 men local neighbors and such to come out they did horses four wheeler SUVs The neighborhood came together to search for her and the family wants to say thank you for your concern." says Perkins.

An Official positive ID will be available next week after the results are returned from the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta.@